"Doctors said I would be confined to a wheelchair my whole life" - Discover the inspirational story of Rachel Hornbuckle, Miss Texas USA Finalist!

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For herthe crown symbolizes possibility. The gorgeous Rachel Hornbuckle, who'll be competing in the 2018 Miss Texas USA Pageant was born an overcomer. "Doctors said I would be confined to a wheelchair my whole life, but I defied the odds and not only walked, but ran and now I’ll be walking at Miss Texas USA 2018. It’s mind blowing to me, but that experience pushes me to give my all no matter what I’m participating in." she explained.

Because pageants are not just about the gowns and crowns. Rachel believes they can play a role in the betterment of society. The beauty queen dedicates countless hours to her community by participating in free legal advice clinics, Habitat for Humanity wills clinic, Legal Services, re-entry clinics, and Operation Homeless Connect in Birmingham, Alabama. "My life’s work is dedicated to lowering the rate of generational incarceration and recidivism, while also addressing the social stigmas and affects generational incarceration has on children."

This cause is near and dear to her heart because she was a child affected by parental incarceration, - "I truly know how this life altering event can influence a child’s path in life." she added.

According to USA Today over 5 million U.S. children have an incarcerated parent, meaning 1 out of 14 children have a parent who has been removed from the household. These children are 6 times more likely than their peers to commit a crime or be incarcerated. "I was blessed enough to have people around me to push me towards my destiny and away from self-destruction, but not every child has a support system like I did, which is why I want to be the change by bringing awareness to this epidemic."

I had the opportunity to interview Rachel a few days before the Miss Texas Usa Pageant. I appreciate her sharing her story. I hope you will enjoy this interview!

Congratulations on being a finalist of Miss Texas USA. How do you feel?

Thank you! I’m honestly so honored and blessed to be able to compete for this amazing title. I truly don’t have the words to describe my excitement, but it feels like a dream to have the opportunity to compete for my dream job.

Which part of the competition are you most looking forward to? Do you have any apprehensions?

I’m really excited about the interview portion of the competition. It gives me to opportunity to show my personality and to allow the judges to get to know me better as a person and a contestant. I honestly don’t have any apprehensions; I’ve been extremely dedicated to training and preparing for Miss Texas USA, and I know my hard work will pay off and my light shines bright come competition day.

What qualities a woman should have to represent a whole nation?

To represent an entire nation, I believe the qualities a woman should have include: being courageous and confident in who she is and all that she does, being conscious of the world around her, resilient in her effort to succeed, and having the ability to empathize and relate to others.

What inspired you to walk on the course of beauty pageants?

I’ve honestly always wanted to walk on the course of beauty pageants, but when I was younger I was 110% dedicated to sports and school. Now that my athletic and academic career have come to a close, God told me it’s my time to pursue this dream and made a way for me to do so.

Social media seem to play a major role in pageantry nowadays. Do you think this is advantageous to you? Why or why not?

I believe the role social media plays in pageantry is very advantageous; it allows the world to connect to pageantry in a way that we couldn’t 10 or 15 years ago by allow us to connect with different pageant systems and all the amazing contestants beyond what we see on stage. It also provides a platform for us to be global influencers by sharing our life experiences, values, and hobbies with the world, while also giving us the opportunity to spread positivity.

Thanks to the beautiful Rachel for the interview. Pageants News wishes you all the very best for Miss Texas USA pageant.